Jaylen Brown knows the job’s not done.
In the aftermath of an impressive NBA Finals opener win, the reigning Eastern Conference Finals MVP looks forward for a swinging Dallas Maverick response in the next game.
“I expect them [Dallas] in Game 2 to come out with tremendous force and maybe try to hit us in the mouth,” Brown told reporters after the Celtics 107-89 Game 1 win over the Mavericks.
Back in this stage for the first time since 2022, the Celtics showed little to no rust after leading by as many as 29 points en route to their eight straight playoff win.
[ALSO READ: Porzingis shines in NBA Finals debut as Celtics turn back Mavericks for title series head start]
Kristaps Porzingis came back after missing 38 days and became the difference maker all-game long behind 20 points, six rebounds and three blocks in just 21 minutes.
1st game back in the lineup ?
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
1st-career NBA Finals game ?
...and Kristaps Porzingis came up BIG. 💪
20 PTS (8-13 FGM)
6 REB
3 BLK
Celtics take a 1-0 in the #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV! pic.twitter.com/hPYDbPGrkL
“I’m sure [in] the next game, they [Dallas] will make adjustments and we got to be able to read it,” JB spoke.
Brown, who finished with 22 points, six rebounds, three steals, and three blocks, now shifts his attention to Game 2.
SERIES-OPENING STATEMENT FROM JAYLEN BROWN 🚨
— NBA (@NBA) June 7, 2024
22 points
3 steals
3 blocks
1 HUGE poster
Boston takes 1-0 lead... Game 2 is Sunday at 8pm/et on ABC 🍿 pic.twitter.com/EZP8ZPpt0A
“We can’t be celebrating ourselves. Dallas is probably getting ready for the next game right now. So we got to prepare and get ready for the next game too,” he added.
The 27-year-old became set the tone on the defensive end early, taking the challenge early of defending his Conference Finals MVP counterpart- Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic.
Doncic still finished with a 30-point, 10-rebound double-double in his NBA Finals debut, and JB knows it will take a whole team to slow down - if not stop- the Slovenian wizard in Game 2.
“It’s a full team effort. Luka [Doncic] still has 30 [points] and 10 [rebounds]. We got to do a better job. Tonight, I got lucky a couple of times and we got to be ready for Game 2. “
“I’m sure in the next game, they [Dallas] will make adjustments and we will be able to read it.”
Dallas cut the deficit to eight points in the third quarter, but Boston answered with a 14-0 run to quickly pull away again.
“That's when the game started,” Brown said.
“It’s not going to be perfect. It’s a long series. You have to play smart basketball, make great plays to get our flow back.”
Game 2 of the Dallas-Boston championship series on Monday, June 10 at 8:00 a.m. (PH time). This will be aired LIVE on One Sports, NBA TV Philippines, RPTV, and the Pilipinas Live app.
